FundRaiser Blog
The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.
6 Ways to Stay Quick and Genuine with Your Thanks
Thanking donors seems like something so basic that we shouldn’t even have to talk about it. But more mistakes, with more devastating results for donor loyalty, are made in the thanking of donors than anyplace else. So, let’s go over six rules for saying “thank you” that are absolutely essential.
- Thank a donor immediately. Send out a thank-you note for a gift no later than the day after the gift is received. Nothing is more important than a prompt thank-you.
- Be humble. Don’t act as if or communicate the thought that you were expecting the gift as something that was the donor’s responsibility to do.
- Praise the donor’s generosity. Do not stint. Let the donor know how important the gift is.
- Praise your donor’s leadership. Anyone who gives is a leader and should be treated as such, and call attention to the fact that their gift will influence others to give.
- Thank donors for past support. When you receive today’s gift remind the donor how appreciative you are of past support, but do not talk about future support. Do not say thanks out of one side of your mouth and hint at future requests out of the other.
- And finally, never let a hint of disappointment show. Never, ever show a lack of gratitude for a gift, whatever its size.
There are two things that must be remembered about saying thanks. Donors expect it, and they deserve it.
To learn how FundRaiser can help you send out thank you letters quickly
About the author
Tony is the founder of Raise-Funds.com. For 20 years Tony was director of development for The Cleveland Orchestra. As such he was responsible for Cleveland’s largest annual institutional fund-raising campaign. Since 1993, Tony has been a fund-raising consultants. Tony’s experiences have won him a wide audience. He is the author of the widely used and praised book It’s a Great Day to Fund Raise, a step-by-step guide to help volunteers and professionals be as successful as possible as they carry out their fund-raising responsibilities.
Author's recent posts
Related Posts
Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
transparency
how-to videos
case study
donor relations
grassroots campaign
LYBUNTS
government grants
motivation
Resiliency
mission driven
new version
In-Kind gifts
Excel
flash sales
pledges
merge fields
Crowdfunding Campaign
gift notes field
Groupings
Thank You
office
giving levels
donor targeting
New Year
mailing
backing up data
correspondance
fundraising
End of Year Letters
campaign management
customer service
general
data analysis
annual campaign
importing csv
donor advised funds
donor attrition
motivation code
Cloud
Snow Birds
on site training
custom page
large donations
salutation
Reminders
happiness
user spotlights
welcome packet
password protection
donor slip
mode code
donor contact information
social media
support
PayPal
new nonprofit
holiday giving
Tickles
spreadsheets
letter
Task List
spare fields
membership programs
brick campaign
donor engagement
publicity materials
upgrading donors
community broadcasting
appeal
tribute gifts
Codes
overview
Network for Good
new features
planning
online donations
advanced tab
product news
role of nonprofits
auction
Alternative Addresses
data entry
online donations
Reporting to IRS
add ons
segmenting donors
major gift prospects
legacy giving
event management
look and feel
direct mail
the Ask
giving history
banquet
corporate sponsors
relationship tracking
follow up
major donors
grants
planned giving
donor retention rate
operating systems
FundRaiser Basic
Constant Contact
donor retention
SYBUNTS
board members
anonymous donors
donor
new leadership
volunteering
targeted mailings
merge notes
building donor relationships
FundRaiser Hosted
budget
animal rescue
security
vacation
gift entry
customer portal
disaster relief
NCOA processing
donor preferences
foundations
Facebook
donor loyalty
National Change of Address
endowment campaign
Facebook campaign
lapsed donor
communications
pictures
donor source
training tip
user interface
donor profile
letter templates
small donations
community arts nonprofits
tech tip
data conversion
phoning donors
repeat donors
Importing Data
appeal letters
community supported gardens
how to handle auction gifts
announcements
prospects
technical support
#GivingTuesday
monthly giving
tax summary letters
operational costs
Personalizing
GivingTuesday
adding personal notes to letters
FundRaiser Spark
Thanksgiving
training
arts
ticketsales
word processor
texting donors
annual maintenance plan
thank you letters
donor prospects
development director
donor recognition
raffle
charity golf tournaments
increasing giving amounts
donation history
campaign
nonprofit fundraising
memorial giving
email
Volunteer module
ticket sales
holiday letters
upgrade
GoFundMe project
fundraising letters
capital campaign
moves management
Congratulations
change of address updating
ROI
entering auction gifts
alumni
personalizing letters
accounting software
gift acceptance policy
donor attrition rate
new donors
Donor Portal
premiums
correspondence
features
solicitors
recurring gifts
in honor of donations
membership benefits
volunteers
passwords
holiday
membersip benefits
reports
updates
Company culture
understanding giving trends